[fletch7T3]

Hi All ,

I am a newbie to all this so please bear with me, I am in the process of weighing up all the pro’s and con’s of becoming a wc, and look to try it part time over the weekends and slow build up to full time. I would like input to kind of realistic time scale on building a round. Ideally my medium term goal would be a round of 400- 480 homes per month, is this achievable within 12-18 months? Obviously it would take some serious graft and long hours knocking on doors, is starting out in the winter months a bad idea? What kind of conversion rate would you expect knocking on doors? Is 4% realistic in a fairly affluent area?

Any advice most welcome, and I would like to say what a fantastic forum!!.

Alan

[Majestic]

Welcome Alan
Where abouts do you work

[fletch7T3]

Hi john,

I am from Derby

[East coast window cleaning Services]

When i started out it was Mid sept. For yes it was cold at the time but the summer brigade stop working and you can pick up of them when canvassing

[Kwackers]

People want windows clean all year round but i think mid november onwards people will wait untill the new year when the cash starts flowing again

[supernova77]

Hi Alan,

Welcome to the forum! 

I started in Jan 06 (actually starting canvassing in Dec 05 though).

I remember canvassing for 6 hours a day for days on end when I first started out... It was cold and very hard work... But looking back on those days I actually miss them now, it was fun trying to build up a round, setting my first targets etc...

Doorknocking is definately the way to go. I chucked my job in and tried to start window cleaning fulltime straight away. What I tried to do was spend a day canvassing and didn't stop until I reached at least £100 of new work, then the next day I would go and clean it, the next day I would then canvass again and clean that days new work the day after (if that makes sense  ). So in effect I was cleaning 1 day and canvassing the next.

By November 06 I had to employ my cousin for a few days a week to help me out. I have recently given him a months notice, because it's not really working out with him now, but in the new year will be looking to employ someone else for 3 / 4 days a week.

The work is out there... Go and get it! 

Andy

[pingu]

I have just been out yesterday and today with a fist full of leaflets and turned up 9 quotes for tommorow...looking back at last years figures.....The autumn months do appear to be the time to pick up new customers...as the summer months most people are busy thinking about holidays and other bits and pieces.

 

[a-r window cleanin]

We started Nov 2004 and now get most of our new customers from Oct onwards as the summer cleaners go in.
Never under quote just to get a job as you will regret it.

[fletch7T3]

Thank you all, for the advice it’s been encourage to say the least, I am just so motivated at the minute. I’ve got a business pack from business link; I am looking it from all angles doing my research, looking at costs, looking at what I would like to realistically earn an hour. Out of interest how much do set aside for running costs, do you have a set figure per house say a med size house cost £5.00 and 50p of that goes towards the cost of running? Or do you look at the running cost at the end of the month and say well I’ve made £200 and it cost me £10 in running costs.

[colley614]

Best thing to do mate is to have a good browse through the website and you will probably answer most of your questions. I found that I was asking and asking when I first started and the questions had already been answered a few times so if you read through a good few pages then you should get a few different opinions and comments from different characters!

Welcome abroad and before you ask yeah I recommend a backpack 

[supernova77]

I don't set aside anything for running costs as such... I just pay for equipment / materials etc... as and when.

Try not to charge too low... I know you only used it as an example but £5 for a medium size house is too cheap! At those prices you will be working yourself into the ground for nothing, and then you might not last in the world of window cleaning.

I have a minimum charge of £10 and stick to it. This has worked well for me.

Andy

[Kwackers]

To be honest even a small terrace house will be £8 minimum, usually 4 front and back, thats at a £1 a window.

Depends how specific you price with bay windows, big and small windows, then there conserventories, depending on if you do just the sides, or top and sides.

I havn't really posted much on here, but been on here a good few months, anything you need to find out have a search first, there's definately 100's of comments on pricing, and they are worth reading.

[wightsurf]

Hi , I don't think you have said how your are cleaning Wfp/trad,or have you and i missed it :
Anyway if trad once set up the cost are low,wfp and thats a bit different.
 

[mark dew]

400 - 480 jobs a month is i think unrealistic if you want to do anything else apart from sleep when you get home. You're gonna need 3 shredded wheat for breakfast as well.
As you say a fiver per job, does that mean you are looking at an income of £2k per month as what you are aiming for?
If so, try upping your price by just £1. That way you will still probably get the work but will need to do 20% less work to achieve that total.
Don't be put off by, "our old window cleaner only charged....." Stick to your price and emphasise what a good job you are gonna do for them... blah blah blah.
Don't be tempted to round down prices on bigger houses either, always round up to the nearest pound or so.
If you are targetting affluent areas then try charging a minimum price of £10, although this might take a bit more confindence than you will have when starting out.
Finally, if you are not far from villages in the countryside, try canvassing these areas or find out which parish magazine covers the area and put an advert in there.
Good luck.

[windowwashers]

400 - 480 jobs a month is i think unrealistic if you want to do anything else apart from sleep when you get home. You're gonna need 3 shredded wheat for breakfast as well.
As you say a fiver per job, does that mean you are looking at an income of £2k per month as what you are aiming for?
If so, try upping your price by just £1. That way you will still probably get the work but will need to do 20% less work to achieve that total.
Don't be put off by, "our old window cleaner only charged....." Stick to your price and emphasise what a good job you are gonna do for them... blah blah blah.
Don't be tempted to round down prices on bigger houses either, always round up to the nearest pound or so.
If you are targetting affluent areas then try charging a minimum price of £10, although this might take a bit more confindence than you will have when starting out.
Finally, if you are not far from villages in the countryside, try canvassing these areas or find out which parish magazine covers the area and put an advert in there.
Good luck.

I would have said 4 weetabix myself 

[colley614]

He is in the same boat as me when I got going. He will soon realize that his prices can be upped and with a little help for us we will help him get his prices competitive!

As I said before, good luck mate! 

[Londoner]

You always price low when you are starting out, and you take on every job thats offered. After a while you wise up but its part of the learning process. Don't worry too much about details at the moment just canvass every spare minute you've got and everything else will fall into place.

[Jago]

yeah I have a minimum of £8 and I have had the old but my old window cleaner used to charge a fiver line

If they say they got rid of him as he was crap then you say well you get what you pay for
if they say oh he just stopped coming around then say well he probably got higher paid jobs and dropped his cheap houses but if you want a regular reliable wc then my price is £8 - £10
also look around the house I have been stung by not doing that too and you are always gutted to find an extra window or two lol
hope it goes well
Regards J